Nancy S. Brandt's Blog
July 15, 2016
Sequel to Pigsty Princess to be published
Clean Reads has given me a contract for Questionable Queen, the sequel to Pigsty Princess.
Princess Ursula, sister to the Chaos Sensitive Queen of Valborough, feels a bit useless now that she is no longer a contender for the throne. She has turned her energies to doing what she can for the families of the men still held prisoner in the neighboring kingdom of Heyton after the last war. When recently crowned King Killian of Heyton wants an alliance with Valborough, he agrees to release the prisoners if Ursula agrees to marry him.
For safety reasons, the marriage takes place quickly, with Prince Gideon, Killian's crippled nephew standing in as proxy groom.
While traveling to her new home in the Sapphire Palace of Heyton, Ursula, now Queen of a country she's never seen and wife to a husband she's never met, finds out that she is also now a widow.
Determined to see that the prisoners are still released, Ursula continues on to the Sapphire Palace with Gideon as her guide.
Not everyone is happy when the new Queen arrives, least of all Grand Princess Veronica, Killian's twin sister who has her own plans to see her son, Josiah, on the throne and will do anything to make sure that happens.
Ursula soon discovers that when it comes to wearing a crown, some truths can costly.
And deadly.
Princess Ursula, sister to the Chaos Sensitive Queen of Valborough, feels a bit useless now that she is no longer a contender for the throne. She has turned her energies to doing what she can for the families of the men still held prisoner in the neighboring kingdom of Heyton after the last war. When recently crowned King Killian of Heyton wants an alliance with Valborough, he agrees to release the prisoners if Ursula agrees to marry him.
For safety reasons, the marriage takes place quickly, with Prince Gideon, Killian's crippled nephew standing in as proxy groom.
While traveling to her new home in the Sapphire Palace of Heyton, Ursula, now Queen of a country she's never seen and wife to a husband she's never met, finds out that she is also now a widow.
Determined to see that the prisoners are still released, Ursula continues on to the Sapphire Palace with Gideon as her guide.
Not everyone is happy when the new Queen arrives, least of all Grand Princess Veronica, Killian's twin sister who has her own plans to see her son, Josiah, on the throne and will do anything to make sure that happens.
Ursula soon discovers that when it comes to wearing a crown, some truths can costly.
And deadly.
December 10, 2014
Excerpt from Pigsty Princess which will be out Feb. 2015
Darius continued, “Will you also tell the Queen and Royal Princess I need to kiss other women because you’re afraid to let me touch you?”
“I’m not afraid.” Mariana straightened her back and lifted her chin, wishing she were taller. “It just isn’t proper to engage in…those kinds of activities before we’re officially engaged.”
To her chagrin, he burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, Mari, but can you be that naive? ‘Those kinds of activities,’ as you call them, are part of an adult relationship. You need to wake up and accept this.”
She swallowed. “Then come back to the ballroom and dance with me again.”
He shook his head. “I like you, Mari, but I’m not going to marry you. I can’t afford to bond with a commoner.”
“Commoner? What are you talking about?”
“Mari, you can stop pretending. Everyone in the kingdom knows you’re not the King’s daughter by blood. How else do you explain your Insensitivity?”
Mariana felt as though her bones had liquefied. With great effort, she stayed upright until she found a nearby bench and dropped to it. The two other women rushed away, giving her sidelong glances as they passed. “Why would you say these things to me? I thought you had feelings for me. Real feelings.”
“I did. “ He sat next to her and took her hand. “I was young. I thought your deficiencies wouldn’t matter, but I’m a Metal Sensitive, and I need to wed someone who can complement my Abilities. I have to think about my inheritance.”
He stared into the night on the other side of the balcony railing. Mariana wondered what he was seeing.
“I can use my abilities to strengthen the defenses of Sasoin. Maybe one day, I can add to our holdings. My sisters will need property to take to their own marriages, unless they wed above their stations.”
“My father will give me property.” Her argument was weak, for while Liliana had gotten a large estate, she was the Royal Princess and second in line for the throne until Grand Duchess Victoria delivered her child. Liliana’s husband, Nigel, had been of high noble blood, his father an Amar, a cousin of her grandfather.
Darius shook his head. “I cannot count on that, and there is still the issue of the Bonding. Face it, Mariana, I need to do better.”
“I’m not afraid.” Mariana straightened her back and lifted her chin, wishing she were taller. “It just isn’t proper to engage in…those kinds of activities before we’re officially engaged.”
To her chagrin, he burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, Mari, but can you be that naive? ‘Those kinds of activities,’ as you call them, are part of an adult relationship. You need to wake up and accept this.”
She swallowed. “Then come back to the ballroom and dance with me again.”
He shook his head. “I like you, Mari, but I’m not going to marry you. I can’t afford to bond with a commoner.”
“Commoner? What are you talking about?”
“Mari, you can stop pretending. Everyone in the kingdom knows you’re not the King’s daughter by blood. How else do you explain your Insensitivity?”
Mariana felt as though her bones had liquefied. With great effort, she stayed upright until she found a nearby bench and dropped to it. The two other women rushed away, giving her sidelong glances as they passed. “Why would you say these things to me? I thought you had feelings for me. Real feelings.”
“I did. “ He sat next to her and took her hand. “I was young. I thought your deficiencies wouldn’t matter, but I’m a Metal Sensitive, and I need to wed someone who can complement my Abilities. I have to think about my inheritance.”
He stared into the night on the other side of the balcony railing. Mariana wondered what he was seeing.
“I can use my abilities to strengthen the defenses of Sasoin. Maybe one day, I can add to our holdings. My sisters will need property to take to their own marriages, unless they wed above their stations.”
“My father will give me property.” Her argument was weak, for while Liliana had gotten a large estate, she was the Royal Princess and second in line for the throne until Grand Duchess Victoria delivered her child. Liliana’s husband, Nigel, had been of high noble blood, his father an Amar, a cousin of her grandfather.
Darius shook his head. “I cannot count on that, and there is still the issue of the Bonding. Face it, Mariana, I need to do better.”
July 3, 2013
Home from China only 3 days.
So, you know what I love? Plumbing issues! Truly. It’s my fave!
This morning about 5:30, I woke up and heard water running. In my sleepy state, I thought, “Why is Steve taking a shower at this time of the morning?” Then I realized it didn’t sound like the shower, so I got out of bed and as soon as I stepped onto the tile of the hall, I KNEW it wasn’t the shower as I was in about a 1/4″ of water!
I woke him up (He had fallen asleep in Noah’s room after prayers), and he stumbled out to the shed and got the wet-vac and began the laborious process of drying out our hallways and two bathrooms.
Now the Roto-Rooter guy is here to clean out the outside drain from the house which, from time to time, gets clogged up with tree roots and other lovely junk.
After having to have someone come to our Chinese apartment 4 times in one month to fix the toilet or shower, I’m getting a little tired of plumbing issues!
However, I think I would rather have plumbing than not!
This morning about 5:30, I woke up and heard water running. In my sleepy state, I thought, “Why is Steve taking a shower at this time of the morning?” Then I realized it didn’t sound like the shower, so I got out of bed and as soon as I stepped onto the tile of the hall, I KNEW it wasn’t the shower as I was in about a 1/4″ of water!
I woke him up (He had fallen asleep in Noah’s room after prayers), and he stumbled out to the shed and got the wet-vac and began the laborious process of drying out our hallways and two bathrooms.
Now the Roto-Rooter guy is here to clean out the outside drain from the house which, from time to time, gets clogged up with tree roots and other lovely junk.
After having to have someone come to our Chinese apartment 4 times in one month to fix the toilet or shower, I’m getting a little tired of plumbing issues!
However, I think I would rather have plumbing than not!
November 9, 2012
Thursday Book Promotion - on Friday!
I'm sorry I didn't get this out yesterday. Life is hectic. Tomorrow is our annual Readers' Luncheon and I've been working to get my outfit made and the agenda dealt with, etc., etc. Anyway, here it is, a day late.
This Time You Lose by Chris Stralyn
What would you do if street thugs invaded your home? What if you're a daycare provider, caring for a dozen children at the time? Lisa Kaamp, a most unlikely heroine, faces just such a nightmare in This Time You Lose, the suspense driven story of one woman's struggle to survive when she and the children she cares for become victims of a home invasion gone terribly wrong.
Lisa Kaamp operates a small childcare business out of her home in Nogeksum, Michigan. Highly respected and known for going the extra mile for her daycare kids, she thinks she's handled every daycare emergency possible. But nothing prepares her for the horror she now faces.
Lisa finds herself bound and gagged, four strange men in her home, and the daycare children held hostage in the next room. Terrorized by her captors as the authorities work to meet the ransom deadline, she tries negotiating with the men for the release of the children, but soon realizes they have no intention of letting anyone go.
With the deadline approaching, Lisa must do the unimaginable to protect the children and get everyone out alive.
Book trailer - Book Trailer
***On September 1, 2012 This Time You Lose was named a finalist for the Kindle Book Review Best Indie Books 2012 Award. ***
***In 2008 This Time You Lose was named a finalist in the TNBW Strongest Start Novel Competition. Four months later it earned the distinction of being a TNBW Readers Choice Top Ten Novel, and has remained on the Top Ten list ever since.***
This Time You Lose - Kindle
This Time You Lose - Paperback
This Time You Lose Website
This Time You Lose
This Time You Lose by Chris StralynWhat would you do if street thugs invaded your home? What if you're a daycare provider, caring for a dozen children at the time? Lisa Kaamp, a most unlikely heroine, faces just such a nightmare in This Time You Lose, the suspense driven story of one woman's struggle to survive when she and the children she cares for become victims of a home invasion gone terribly wrong.
Lisa Kaamp operates a small childcare business out of her home in Nogeksum, Michigan. Highly respected and known for going the extra mile for her daycare kids, she thinks she's handled every daycare emergency possible. But nothing prepares her for the horror she now faces.
Lisa finds herself bound and gagged, four strange men in her home, and the daycare children held hostage in the next room. Terrorized by her captors as the authorities work to meet the ransom deadline, she tries negotiating with the men for the release of the children, but soon realizes they have no intention of letting anyone go.
With the deadline approaching, Lisa must do the unimaginable to protect the children and get everyone out alive.
Book trailer - Book Trailer
***On September 1, 2012 This Time You Lose was named a finalist for the Kindle Book Review Best Indie Books 2012 Award. ***
***In 2008 This Time You Lose was named a finalist in the TNBW Strongest Start Novel Competition. Four months later it earned the distinction of being a TNBW Readers Choice Top Ten Novel, and has remained on the Top Ten list ever since.***
This Time You Lose - Kindle
This Time You Lose - Paperback
This Time You Lose Website
This Time You Lose
November 1, 2012
Thursday Book Promotion - Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite
Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphroditeby Lianne Simone
Goodreads summary:
Jamie was born with one testis, one ovary, and a pixie face. He can be like other boys after minor surgery and a few years on testosterone. At least that's what his parents always say. But he sees an elfin princess in the mirror and male hormones would only turn her into a hairy little monster. To become the man his parents expect, he must put behind him the hopes and dreams of a little girl.
At sixteen, the four-foot-eleven soprano leaves home school for a boys' dorm at college. The elfin princess can live in the books Jameson reads and nobody has to know he isn't like the other boys. But then a medical student tells Jamie that he should have been raised female. Suppressed childhood memories stir and Jamie begins a perilous journey to adulthood. The elfin princess can thrive, but will she risk losing her family and her education for a boyfriend who may leave her, and a toddler she may never be allowed to adopt?
Excerpt:
I didn't have any clothes fit for an elfin princess, so my cousin Kaylah let me borrow some hand-me-downs one of the Fair Folk had given her. She shook her head as she held a white velvet skirt up in front of me. "I don't care if that old book says the Kirkpatricks are faie. Your face is bean shìdh, but the rest of you is brùnaidh."
At five I was only a little taller than my two-year-old sister Alicia, so the clothes were way too big for me. "Please, Kaylah. The brownies are elves too. They're just not as tall."
"All right, then." Kaylah safety-pinned the white velvet skirt to my slip, so the waist stayed up under my arms and the hem brushed the floor. The satin sleeves of the woodland green blouse hung down past my fingertips. She wrapped a silver lace belt around my waist twice and made a bow in the back. A spider-silk flower went on my shoulder. I sat down so she could tie the ribbons of starlight ballet slippers around my ankles. "There you are!" She clapped her hands together. "Princess Grace herself doesn't dress any finer than that."
Fancy clothes weren't all an elfin princess needed to be dressed for a party, so I sat facing my reflection and waited for my maidservant to finish. She stood behind me in the wall mirror, intense concentration twisting her face. I grinned as she pulled the soft foam rollers out of my locks and fluffed, brushed, teased, and sprayed until my hair was perfect. It wasn't very long, but the color was pretty, somewhere between ripe pumpkin and the gold of the earrings she clipped on my ears.
Face full of wonder, Kaylah held a glass vial before my eyes. "There's a river so high in the Mountains of the Moon that the water turns silvery-blue." She pulled the stopper out of the shiny bottle and dipped a small brush into it. "I'm going to paint your nails with moonlight. Sit still until it dries."
In the mirror sat a beautiful elfin princess—golden hair aglow, large emerald eyes, small red mouth, and rosy cheeks sprinkled with freckles. She was the happiest elf-maiden of the realm. I stood, grabbed a handful of white velvet on each side, curtseyed to the lady in the mirror, and spun around so my skirt would fly.
"Pretty!" shouted Alicia, one finger in her mouth.
"Both my girls are beautiful." Kaylah bent down and kissed my little sister on the cheek.
"Are you ready, birthday girl?" She grabbed my hand and held it high. "Your court awaits you, my lady." I spun around on tiptoes, a lovely ballerina, my shoes sparkling like stardust in the night sky.
Jimmy the Pirate swaggered into the kitchen, wooden saber at his side and a black patch over one eye. Alicia danced in her little pink tutu and a pair of angel wings made from coat hanger wire and crinoline. Gladys was dressed like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, red shoes and all. She had even brought Toto, a stuffed toy animal that might once have resembled a dog. Kaylah wore a tattered pair of bib overalls, a gingham blouse, and an old straw hat.
They had all chipped in and bought me a present. Kaylah must have wrapped the package because the edges and folds were all straight. I pulled the tape off, careful not to rip the paper. Inside was a new Raggedy Ann. A squeal of delight burst from my lips, and I hugged the doll to my breast. "Sofie! I'll name her Princess Sofie!" I scooted over on my throne, set her on the seat beside me, and straightened her dress.
Kaylah winked at me, set my birthday cake on the kitchen table, and lit the candles. I blew out all five with one breath and grinned at Jimmy. They say you shouldn't tell anybody your wish, but he already knew I wanted to be his wife.
The pirate grinned at me, eyes flashing, and waved a saber over his head. "Yar! Cut the cake!"
Kaylah was the one who baked my birthday cake. I think she got the recipe off a Hershey's Cocoa tin. Anyway, she made the yummiest chocolate cakes. I cut Jimmy a ragged chunk and passed him his plate.
"Princess, you're making a mess." My cousin, gentle as always, cleaned the frosting off my sleeve and cut slices for the rest of us.
I was halfway through eating mine when I heard the front door open. Ooh! Dad was home early. Seeing the little princess would make him sad. My fork hit my lap, chocolate cake and all, and bounced to the floor. Arms trembling, I sprang up, thinking to run away.
"No, Jamie. It's okay. Today's your birthday." Kaylah grabbed my arm and gently pushed me back down into my seat. "He should see how pretty you look."
Kaylah was only twelve, but she'd pretended to be my mom ever since she was seven. My real mom home schooled Kaylah, and me, and my brother Scott every morning. In the afternoon, while our moms worked, my cousin, and Alicia, and I played together. Scott didn't hang around with girls, so he went to his pal Joey's or played kick-the-can outside the old schoolhouse on Polk Street.
I didn't have a magic ring to make me invisible, so Dad found me as soon as he strode into the kitchen. His eyes, deep wells of disappointment, locked on the elfin princess and sucked the life out of her. "What's going on?"
Kaylah stepped between me and Dad, saving me from certain doom. "It's Jamie's birthday, remember? The kids are all wearing costumes for his party. We were reading Old Scottish Fairy Tales and he wanted to dress like an elfin princess."
I peeked around Kaylah's waist, hiding Sofie behind my back. The air around my father seemed to crackle with lightning, but he only nodded and smiled at me. "I got you a new softball. After your party, let's play catch. Okay, sport?"
So my dad played catch with the elfin princess, tossing her the ball underhand from a few feet away. I missed the first one; it went right between my outstretched arms. The second rolled off my fingertips. The third bounced off my hands and hit me in the face. Boys seemed to learn right away, but I didn't think I'd ever be able to catch a ball. I shut my eyes to hide my frustration, but the tears were too many.
"I'm sorry, Jameson. Are you okay?" Dad knelt down and hugged his little princess tight, but the disappointment in his eyes hurt her worse than the ball had. Scott said I threw like a girl, but all the ones I knew played catch better than me. I got hurt when I played boy games. Every time. That's one reason I preferred playing with Kaylah and Alicia.
Dad led me back inside. While he searched for the ice pack, I sympathized with the princess in the mirror. Her face resembled a raccoon's now, with a dark half-moon under one eye. Poor girl. Another black eye. Won't you ever learn?
Lianne is holding a giveaway on Goodreads - Enter to Win
Paperback version - Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite
Kindle - Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite
All digital formats are available here.Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite
October 9, 2012
Teaser Tuesday
I’m working on the sequel to Sword and Illusion, Sword & Incantation. I don’t want to give much away about the first book because it’s been out for just a few months and I don’t want to spoil anything.
The second book centers around Greenblade, Prince Varian’s daughter he didn’t know he had, and her struggles to find out who she really is. This is the first scene of the book as it is so far. I assume it will change as I haven’t finished the first draft yet, but here’s a taste of the book
Germian, husband of Arrowbreaker, looked at the limp, dirty lamb in his arms. The soft once white fleece was now matted with dried blood and the smell of dung and mud which surrounded it told the farmer the story of the creature’s struggles.
The dumb animal had gotten stuck in a bramble bush near the rock outcropping at the edge of his land. Somehow, in struggling to get loose, she had twisted herself in the branches and broken two legs. When Germian found her, he’d known she would never survive.
One of the brutal truths of working a farm is that animals died. Germian didn’t like it, but like many other truths of life, he’d come to see it as necessary and sometimes good. The death of an animal often meant the difference between some child going to bed with a full belly or not.
As he walked through the snowy yard near the barn, he thought about the best way to salvage meat from the lamb. A smile played on his lips as he imagined a nice stew with some of the vegetables growing in the planting house.
He rounded the corner of the barn and stopped. Greenblade, his daughter, who was just over sixteen years old, was on her knees under the kitchen window of the house.
She was working on a small flower bed she’d started, hoping to get something to blossom. Their ice world’s growing season was too short for most ornamental plants, but her ability to coax even the most sensitive vegetables to flourish had given her confidence that she could do more.
Why did she have to do start working on it today?
Germian should have continued into the barn because his hesitation gave her the opportunity to notice him.
“Father, what happened to the lamb?” Greenblade stood and wiped her hands on her pants. “Is it alive?”
He looked at the immobile creature in his arms and considered lying to her. Wouldn’t that be better, in the long run? Surely, the Holy One would forgive a small lie to protect his daughter’s sensitive heart. He didn’t want to give her hope that the lamb would survive only to watch her pain when the creature did perish.
On the other hand, she was a Sarl first born daughter, and while she showed little aptitude in war skills, she was too young to pretend that death was some pretty fantasy story about floating off to live with the Crystal Spirits. Maybe it was better that she face the truth.
“I do not believe she will live much longer,” he said. “She is badly injured.”
“I will get your salve. You can save her.” Greenblade hurried into the house.
With a sigh, Germian went into the barn. The lamb was not going to survive the night no matter how much salve he used on the wounds. Another brutal truth of farm life is often animals that played in the sun one day graced the supper table the next.
He laid the lamb on a pile of hay. Greenblade hurried in and handed him the jar of salve.
“I will keep her calm.” the girl said. “She’s probably scared.”
The lamb didn’t move or show any sign of distress but Germian nodded. “Probably in pain as well.”
He rolled up his sleeves and knelt beside his daughter. She put her hands on the creature’s head and body and began murmuring whispered words of comfort.
Germian took some of the salve on his fingers and began massaging it into the largest cut on the lamb’s side. The bleeding had stopped and dried blood mixed with the salve to discolor even more of the wool.
As Greenblade continued to stroke the lamb gently, her father couldn’t bring himself to tell her he felt no heart beat nor any evidence of breathing. Surely, she could feel those same things herself.
Wiping his hands on a nearby rag, he said, “We need to go to the house and start getting supper ready for your mother.”
“Can I stay here a little while longer? I want to offer some prayers.”
As much as he loved his daughter and admired that she thought of the Holy One nearly all the time, he knew tonight her prayers were better offered in a different direction. However, the tears shining in her eyes made it impossible for him to deny her this small request.
“Do not be long. There is much work to do.”
Arrowbreaker, his wife, was in the kitchen peeling some apples when he walked in.
“I was going to do that.” Germian went to the water bucket and washed his hands.
“You were in the barn with Greenblade and a lamb. What happened?”
Briefly, he told her what he and their daughter did in the barn.
She set the knife on the table. “She is going to be so hurt when the lamb is dead tomorrow morning.”
Germian picked up a piece of apple and stuck it in his mouth. “And by then it’ll be too late to butcher it.”
“Is that what you are thinking about?”
“No. You know that, but we have to be honest. We could use that meat later in the season.”
“I know.” Arrowbreaker went back to peeling apples. “Let us just get through this meal and worry about tomorrow then.”
“Agreed.”
What do you think?Sword & Illusion
The second book centers around Greenblade, Prince Varian’s daughter he didn’t know he had, and her struggles to find out who she really is. This is the first scene of the book as it is so far. I assume it will change as I haven’t finished the first draft yet, but here’s a taste of the book
Germian, husband of Arrowbreaker, looked at the limp, dirty lamb in his arms. The soft once white fleece was now matted with dried blood and the smell of dung and mud which surrounded it told the farmer the story of the creature’s struggles.
The dumb animal had gotten stuck in a bramble bush near the rock outcropping at the edge of his land. Somehow, in struggling to get loose, she had twisted herself in the branches and broken two legs. When Germian found her, he’d known she would never survive.
One of the brutal truths of working a farm is that animals died. Germian didn’t like it, but like many other truths of life, he’d come to see it as necessary and sometimes good. The death of an animal often meant the difference between some child going to bed with a full belly or not.
As he walked through the snowy yard near the barn, he thought about the best way to salvage meat from the lamb. A smile played on his lips as he imagined a nice stew with some of the vegetables growing in the planting house.
He rounded the corner of the barn and stopped. Greenblade, his daughter, who was just over sixteen years old, was on her knees under the kitchen window of the house.
She was working on a small flower bed she’d started, hoping to get something to blossom. Their ice world’s growing season was too short for most ornamental plants, but her ability to coax even the most sensitive vegetables to flourish had given her confidence that she could do more.
Why did she have to do start working on it today?
Germian should have continued into the barn because his hesitation gave her the opportunity to notice him.
“Father, what happened to the lamb?” Greenblade stood and wiped her hands on her pants. “Is it alive?”
He looked at the immobile creature in his arms and considered lying to her. Wouldn’t that be better, in the long run? Surely, the Holy One would forgive a small lie to protect his daughter’s sensitive heart. He didn’t want to give her hope that the lamb would survive only to watch her pain when the creature did perish.
On the other hand, she was a Sarl first born daughter, and while she showed little aptitude in war skills, she was too young to pretend that death was some pretty fantasy story about floating off to live with the Crystal Spirits. Maybe it was better that she face the truth.
“I do not believe she will live much longer,” he said. “She is badly injured.”
“I will get your salve. You can save her.” Greenblade hurried into the house.
With a sigh, Germian went into the barn. The lamb was not going to survive the night no matter how much salve he used on the wounds. Another brutal truth of farm life is often animals that played in the sun one day graced the supper table the next.
He laid the lamb on a pile of hay. Greenblade hurried in and handed him the jar of salve.
“I will keep her calm.” the girl said. “She’s probably scared.”
The lamb didn’t move or show any sign of distress but Germian nodded. “Probably in pain as well.”
He rolled up his sleeves and knelt beside his daughter. She put her hands on the creature’s head and body and began murmuring whispered words of comfort.
Germian took some of the salve on his fingers and began massaging it into the largest cut on the lamb’s side. The bleeding had stopped and dried blood mixed with the salve to discolor even more of the wool.
As Greenblade continued to stroke the lamb gently, her father couldn’t bring himself to tell her he felt no heart beat nor any evidence of breathing. Surely, she could feel those same things herself.
Wiping his hands on a nearby rag, he said, “We need to go to the house and start getting supper ready for your mother.”
“Can I stay here a little while longer? I want to offer some prayers.”
As much as he loved his daughter and admired that she thought of the Holy One nearly all the time, he knew tonight her prayers were better offered in a different direction. However, the tears shining in her eyes made it impossible for him to deny her this small request.
“Do not be long. There is much work to do.”
Arrowbreaker, his wife, was in the kitchen peeling some apples when he walked in.
“I was going to do that.” Germian went to the water bucket and washed his hands.
“You were in the barn with Greenblade and a lamb. What happened?”
Briefly, he told her what he and their daughter did in the barn.
She set the knife on the table. “She is going to be so hurt when the lamb is dead tomorrow morning.”
Germian picked up a piece of apple and stuck it in his mouth. “And by then it’ll be too late to butcher it.”
“Is that what you are thinking about?”
“No. You know that, but we have to be honest. We could use that meat later in the season.”
“I know.” Arrowbreaker went back to peeling apples. “Let us just get through this meal and worry about tomorrow then.”
“Agreed.”
What do you think?Sword & Illusion
October 5, 2012
September 14, 2012
5 Cupcake Review for Sword & Illusion!
Opening quote: “So… I loved this book. Of course, I’m a sucker for epic fantasy to begin with, but I think that there are a lot of elements to this novel that make it a breath of fresh air for the usual fantasy reader.”
The rest of the review (5 Cupcakes) can be found here: Paperbacks and FrostingSword & Illusion
The rest of the review (5 Cupcakes) can be found here: Paperbacks and FrostingSword & Illusion
August 14, 2012
July 14, 2012
"Out of the Box" promotion
I'm very active on Facebook. In fact, I have my personal page, my author page, and a page for a small critique group I'm in.
I also have lots of "friends" over there. Not so many that Facebook is asking me to cut back, but enough. My daughter insists that no one can know as many people as I have friends.
I got started on Facebook because I wanted to use it as a promotion vehicle. For years, I was on there, posting every day, but I didn't have a book out.
Now I do. The story of Moonrazer and Varian, in Sword & Illusion, is, I think, some of the best writing I've ever done.
A few days ago, I saw a post from one of my online friends. She was bemoaning the fact that she kept seeing epic fantasies with heroes named things like "Varian."
She actually used his name. I stopped scrolling and reread the post, wondering if she'd seen my posts about the book and that's where she saw the name.
I commented to that idea. I asked if that was where she saw it and kind of jokingly said I was sorry if the name wasn't original.
That was the last I thought about it.
Until today.
I got a private message from her saying she hoped I wasn't offended by her post. She was just trying to be funny (she'd commented that she'd name her hero "Lord Bulgie Leatherpants" or something like that) and that she looked up my book and bought it!
I replied that if that's the result of her "offending" me, she was free to offend away. I did tell her that I wasn't offended at all.
I looked up her book to return the favor but can't find it in the Nook version, and right now I can't afford the paperback. I do intend to get it as soon as I can.
We have to help each other out!
Thanks, Agnes!
I also have lots of "friends" over there. Not so many that Facebook is asking me to cut back, but enough. My daughter insists that no one can know as many people as I have friends.
I got started on Facebook because I wanted to use it as a promotion vehicle. For years, I was on there, posting every day, but I didn't have a book out.
Now I do. The story of Moonrazer and Varian, in Sword & Illusion, is, I think, some of the best writing I've ever done.
A few days ago, I saw a post from one of my online friends. She was bemoaning the fact that she kept seeing epic fantasies with heroes named things like "Varian."
She actually used his name. I stopped scrolling and reread the post, wondering if she'd seen my posts about the book and that's where she saw the name.
I commented to that idea. I asked if that was where she saw it and kind of jokingly said I was sorry if the name wasn't original.
That was the last I thought about it.
Until today.
I got a private message from her saying she hoped I wasn't offended by her post. She was just trying to be funny (she'd commented that she'd name her hero "Lord Bulgie Leatherpants" or something like that) and that she looked up my book and bought it!
I replied that if that's the result of her "offending" me, she was free to offend away. I did tell her that I wasn't offended at all.
I looked up her book to return the favor but can't find it in the Nook version, and right now I can't afford the paperback. I do intend to get it as soon as I can.
We have to help each other out!
Thanks, Agnes!
